Mary Lucille Arrowsmith

Mary Lucille, daughter of Floyd and Margaret (Middleton) Arrowsmith, was born December 31, 1920 at Bagley, Iowa. She grew up near Bagley, attending rural school through the seventh grade. The family moved to Bayard where she completed her schooling, graduating with the Class of 1939. After graduation she worked in the telephone office for four years, then the post office for two years. On June 28, 1943, Mary was united in marriage with Charles Arrowsmith at Olympia, WA. They made their home on the farm near Bayard where Mary was a homemaker. When her husband retired from farming in 1975, they moved into Bayard where he worked for the City of Bayard. Mary began working for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (at Springbrook State Park Education Center) as custodial leader in January of 1975, retiring in 1993. Mary's husband died in 1983 and she continued to live in their home. After her retirement, Mary enjoyed traveling the United States and overseas. She also enjoyed gardening, caring for her flowers and handicrafts until her eyesight failed. Mary liked to read and regularly frequented the public library. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bayard, the ladies church circle and the American Legion Auxiliary. When Mary's health began to fail she moved to the Thomas Rest Haven nursing home in Coon Rapids in 2009. She died following a short illness at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, Iowa, on December 26, 2012. Mary was 91 years, 11 months and 26 days of age. Preceding her in death are her parents; husband Charles Arrowsmith; and brother Elmer Calvert and his wife Nelda. Mary is survived by siblings-in-law: John Arrowsmith (Dee) of Glidden; Donald Arrowsmith (Mary) of Orient; Kenneth Arrowsmith (Ramona) of Florida; Gloria Burns of Sacramento, CA; Irene Fick of Coon Rapids; and Clara Arrowsmith of Illinois ;many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.